Preventing accidental hot car deaths

So far this year, there have been 17 children who have died after being left in a hot car. The problem has awareness ever since the death of 22-month-old Cooper Harris and his father’s subsequent arrest.

According to KidsandCars.org, 670 children have died of heatstroke after being left in a hot vehicle. Every story of a child death is one of unimaginable tragedy.

Quite a few children have been rescued from hot cars this year too because people are aware of the problem and are quick to alert authorities or break into a car to release the child.

Here are some simple tips to avoid accidentally leaving a child in your care in a car:

Tilt your rear view mirror so that you can always see the child in your back seat.

Place your important belongings such as purse or cell phone in the rear floorboard when traveling with a child so that you will open the rear door to retrieve these items.

Place your children’s belongings, a stuffed toy or their diaper bag in the front seat when you travel as a visual reminder.

Ask your child’s caregivers to call you if your child has not arrived at n expected time.

Avail yourself of technology such as True Fit Alert which is an integrated car seat monitor and that alerts you via your cell phone if your child is out of their seat or if your child is left unattended in their seat and also monitors the ambient temperature in the vehicle.

Make sure you lock your car when you have arrived to home to prevent your child from climbing in the vehicle to play.

Place your car keys where a child can not get to them.

If a child is missing, check your vehicle including the trunk immediately

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent car accident victims and their families.